Analysis of variability in gestation length in sows and its association with litter traits at birth
Abstract
Gestation length is a complex polygenic trait in sows that significantly determines their productive characteristics and influences foetal development during the embryonic period. This study aimed to analyse the effects of genotypic factors (breed of the sow and sire boar) and environmental factors (year and season of farrowing) on the variability of gestation length in sows and to determine the nature of its association with litter traits at birth using a meta-analysis algorithm. The analysis was based on primary data regarding reproductive traits in the main herd of the private joint-stock company “Plemzavod “Stepnoi”, Zaporizhzhia Region, collected from 2010 to 2013. The mean gestation length for the animals in the study herd was 115.9 ± 0.04 days, with a range of 110 to 121 days. Gestation length exhibited a very low level of inter-individual variability, with a coefficient of variation of only 1.65%. Duroc sows exhibited shorter gestation lengths, lower total litter sizes, and fewer live piglets per litter at birth compared to Landrace sows (in all cases: P < 0.001). A significant influence of the sire boar’s breed on the reproductive traits of sows was established, except for gestation length and total litter size. The longest gestation lengths were recorded during the winter months, whereas the best performance in other reproductive traits was observed in the spring. Meta-analysis revealed that the “general” estimates of the phenotypic correlation coefficient between gestation length and total litter size, the number of live piglets, and total litter weight at birth were significant and negative. In contrast, the correlation between gestation length and the average birth weight of live piglets was significant and positive
Keywords
reproductive traits; genotypic and environmental factors; meta-analysis; pigs
[1] Aeir, T., Zaman, G., Aziz, A., Goswami, R.N., Kalita, D., Saharia, J., & Ahmed, K. (2020). Studies on reproductive performance of Hampshire × half-bred pigs. Veterinary Research International, 8(2), 148-151.
[2] Bondoc, O.L., Isubol, J.F., & Chua, M.A. (2019). Heterosis in reproductive traits of Landrace × Large White crossbred sows from a local swine breeding farm in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, 45(1), 1-10.
[3] Borenstein, M., Hedges, L.V., Higgins, J.P.T., & Rothstein, H.R. (2021). Introduction to meta-analysis. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9780470743386.
[4] Bumpenkul, R., & Imboonta, N. (2021). Genetic correlations between gestation length and litter traits of sows. The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 51(4), 675-682. doi: 10.56808/2985-1130.3165.
[5] Egli, P.T., Schüpbach-Regula, G., Nathues, H., Ulbrich, S.E., & Grahofer, A. (2022). Influence of the farrowing process and different sow and piglet traits on uterine involution in a free farrowing system. Theriogenology, 182, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.01.028.
[6] European convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. (1986). Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/168007a67b.
[7] Gathura, D.M., Muasya, T.K., & Kahi, A.K. (2020). Meta-analysis of genetic parameters for traits of economic importance for beef cattle in the tropics. Livestock Science, 242, article number 104306. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2020.104306.
[8] Gourley, K.M., Calderon, H.I., Woodworth, J.C., DeRouchey, J.M., Tokach, M.D., Dritz, S.S., & Goodband, R.D. (2020). Sow and piglet traits associated with piglet survival at birth and to weaning. Journal of Animal Science, 98(6), article number skaa187. doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa187.
[9] Hagan, J.K., & Etim, N.N. (2019). The effects of breed, season and parity on the reproductive performance of pigs reared under hot and humid environments. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 51, 411-418. doi: 10.1007/ s11250-018-1705-5.
[10] Hayward, A.D. (2022). Genetic parameters for resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep: A metaanalysis. International Journal for Parasitology, 52(13-14), 843-853. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.09.004.
[11] Jankowiak, H., Balogh, P., Cebulska, A., Vaclavkova, E., Bocian, M., & Reszka, P. (2020). Impact of piglet birth weight on later rearing performance. Veterinární Medicína, 65(11), 473-479. doi: 10.17221/117/2020-VETMED.
[12] Ju, M., Wang, X., Li, X., Zhang, M., Shi, L., Hu, P., Zhang, B., Han, X., Wang, K., Li, X., Zhou, L., & Qiao, R. (2021). Effects of litter size and parity on farrowing duration of Landrace× Yorkshire sows. Animals, 12(1), article number 94. doi: 10.3390/ani12010094.
[13] Kamanova, V., Nevrkla, P., Hadas, Z., Lujka, J., & Filipcik, R. (2021). Changes of sperm morphology in Duroc, Landrace and Large White boars depending on the ambient temperature during the year. Veterinární Medicína, 66(5), 189-196. doi: 10.17221/203/2020-VETMED.
[14] Kramarenko, A., Luhovyi, S., Karatieieva, O., & Kramarenko, S. (2023). Risk factors associated with stillbirth of piglets in Ukrainian Meat breed sows. Scientific Horizons, 26(10), 19-31. doi: 10.48077/scihor10.2023.19.
[15] Law of Ukraine No. 249 “On the Procedure for Carrying out Experiments and Experiments on Animals by Scientific Institutions”. (2012, March). Retrieved from https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0416-12#Text.
[16] Liu, Z., Yang, J., Li, H., Zhong, Z., Huang, J., Fu, J., Zhao, H., Liu, X. & Jiang, S. (2022). Identifying candidate genes for short gestation length trait in Chinese Qingping pigs by whole-genome resequencing and RNA sequencing. Frontiers in Genetics, 13, article number 857705. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.857705.
[17] Matsenko, M.I. (2020). Hematological indices and the rate of growth depending on duration of embryonic growth of pigs obtained by commercial cross-breeding. Animal Science and Food Technology, 11(2), 43-49. doi: 10.31548/animal2020.03.047.
[18] Medrado, B.D., Pedrosa, V.B., & Pinto, L.F.B. (2021). Meta-analysis of genetic parameters for economic traits in sheep. Livestock Science, 247, article number 104477. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104477.
[19] Menčik, S., Klišanić, V., Špehar, M., Mahnet, Ž., Škorput, D., Luković, Z., Karolyi, D., Kabalin, A.E., & Salajpal, K. (2019). Reproductive parameters in a Banija Spotted pig breed population during breed revitalization. Veterinarski Arhiv, 89(2), 183-199. doi: 10.24099/vet.arhiv.0428.
[20] Menčik, S., Vuković, V., Jiang, Z., Ostović, M., Sušić, V., Žura Žaja, I., Samardžija, M., & Ekert Kabalin, A. (2020). Effect of RNF4- SacII gene polymorphism on reproductive traits of Landrace × Large White crossbred sows. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 55(10), 1286-1293. doi: 10.1111/rda.13703.
[21] Moreira, R.H.R., Perez-Palencia, J.Y., Cardoso-Moita, V.H., Caputo, L.S.S., Saraiva, A., Andretta, I., Ferreira, R.A., & Teixeira de Abreu, M.L. (2020). Variability of piglet birth weights: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 104(2), 657-666. doi: 10.1111/jpn.13264.
[22] Muro, B.B.D., Carnevale, R.F., Andretta, I., Leal, D.F., Monteiro, M.S., Poor, A.P., Almond, G.W., & Garbossa, C.A.P. (2021). Effects of uterotonics on farrowing traits and piglet vitality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Theriogenology, 161, 151-160. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.12.003.
[23] Nam, N.H., & Sukon, P. (2020a). Associated factors for farrowing duration in sows with natural parturition in intensive conditions. World’s Veterinary Journal, 10(3), 320-324. doi: 10.36380/scil.2020.wvj41.
[24] Nam, N.H., & Sukon, P. (2020b). Risk factors associated with stillbirth in swine farms in Vietnam. World’s Veterinary Journal, 10(1), 74-79. doi: 10.36380/scil.2020.wvj10.
[25] Nowak, B., Mucha, A., Kruszyński, W., & Moska, M. (2020a). Phenotypic correlations between reproductive characteristics related to litter and reproductive cycle length in sows. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 65(6), 205-212. doi: 10.17221/108/2020-CJAS.
[26] Nowak, B., Mucha, A., Moska, M., & Kruszyński, W. (2020b). Reproduction indicators related to litter size and reproduction cycle length among sows of breeds considered maternal and paternal components kept on medium-size farms. Animals, 10(7), article number 1164. doi: 10.3390/ani10071164.
[27] Ogawa, S., Konta, A., Kimata, M., Ishii, K., Uemoto, Y., & Satoh, M. (2019). Estimation of genetic parameters for farrowing traits in purebred Landrace and Large White pigs. Animal Science Journal, 90(1), 23-28. doi: 10.1111/ asj.13120.
[28] Parada Sarmiento, M., Lanzoni, L., Sabei, L., Chincarini, M., Palme, R., Zanella, A.J., & Vignola, G. (2023). Lameness in pregnant sows alters placental stress response. Animals, 13(11), article number 1722. doi: 10..3390/ ani13111722.
[29] Pedersen, M.L.M., Velander, I.H., Nielsen, M.B.F., Lundeheim, N., & Nielsen, B. (2019). Duroc boars have lower progeny mortality and lower fertility than Pietrain boars. Translational Animal Science, 3(2), 885-892. doi: 10.1093/tas/txz036.
[30] Petrocelli, H., & Batista, C. (2019). Sow reproductive performance: Effect of seminal parameters, season and parity under farm conditions. SCIREA: Journal of Agriculture, 4(4), 61-75.
[31] Pietruszka, A., Der, A., & Matysiak, B. (2020). Analysis of gestation length and its influence on the reproductive performance of crossbred sows kept on a large-scale pig farm. Animal Science and Genetics, 16(1), 29-36. doi: 10.5604/01.3001.0014.0505.
[32] Schild, S.-L.A., Foldager, L., Bonde, M.K., Andersen, H.M.-L., & Pedersen, L.J. (2019). Does hut climate matter for piglet survival in organic production? Animal, 13(4), 826-834. doi: 10.1017/S175173111800201X.
[33] See, G.M., Trenhaile-Grannemann, M.D., Spangler, M.L., Ciobanu, D.C., & Mote, B.E. (2019). A genome-wide association study for gestation length in swine. Animal Genetics, 50(5), 539-542. doi: 10.1111/age.12822.
[34] Shi, L., Li, H., & Wang, L. (2023). Genetic parameters estimation and genome molecular marker identification for gestation length in pigs. Frontiers in Genetics, 13, article number 1046423. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1046423.
[35] Tospitakkul, P., Kraomkaew, K., Thammasin, K., Uttarak, P., Nuntapaitoon, M., De Rensis, F., & Tummaruk, P. (2019). Induction of parturition by double administration of prostaglandin F2α in sows reduces the variation of gestation length without affecting the colostrum yield and piglet performance. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 81(9), 1334-1340. doi: 10.1292/jvms.18-0725.
[36] Yan, M., Li, L., Xiao, S., Zheng, H., Zhang, Z., Huang, L., Yao, W., Tu, J., & Guo, Y. (2021). Estimating the heterosis in the F1 generation of the reciprocal crosses between Shanxia black pig and Lulai black pig. Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica, 52(11), 3030-3041. doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2021.011.005.
[37] Yang, Y., Gan, M., Yang, X., Zhu, P., Luo, Y., Liu, B., Zhu, K., Cheng, W., Chen, L., Zhao, Y., Niu, L., Wang, Y., Zhang, H., Wang, J., Shen, L., & Zhu, L. (2023). Estimation of genetic parameters of pig reproductive traits. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, article number 1172287. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1172287.
[38] Yu, G., Wang, C., & Wang, Y. (2022). Genetic parameter analysis of reproductive traits in Large White pigs. Animal Bioscience, 35(11), 1649-1655. doi: 10.5713/ab.22.0119.
[39] Zindove, T.J., Mutibvu, T., Shoniwa, A.C., & Takaendesa, E.L. (2021). Relationships between litter size, sex ratio and within-litter birth weight variation in a sow herd and consequences on weaning performance. Translational Animal Science, 5(3), article number txab132. doi: 10.1093/tas/txab132.